Book by Bren Simmers nominated for 2024 Governor General Literary Award for Poetry
A book of poetry, titled The Work, by Bren Simmers, managing editor of the Institute of Island Studies鈥� Island Studies Press, has been nominated for the 2024 Governor General鈥檚 Literary Award for Poetry.
The poems in the book deal with the work of love and loss, and learning to carry grief. Simmers writes of churning in an accumulation of losses鈥攖he sudden death of her father, the descent of her mother into dementia, her sister-in-law鈥檚 terminal illness鈥攁nd of the work of slowly making wholeness out of brokenness. Her writing fosters a vulnerability and wit that sidestep easier tropes, a reminder that healing often comes through saying 鈥淗ello鈥� and 鈥淵es鈥�; a realization that 鈥渁ll this noticing/was love.鈥�
鈥淚 am thrilled to be a finalist for the Governor General鈥檚 Literary Award for Poetry,鈥� said Simmers. 鈥淚t is an honour to recognized by my peers in this way. I am grateful that this book with its themes of grief and loss will connect with a wider audience.鈥�
Simmers is the author of four books: If, When (2021), Pivot Point (2019), Night Gears (2010), and Hastings-Sunrise (2015), which was a finalist for the City of Vancouver Book Award. Her work has won the CBC Poetry Prize, The Malahat Review Long Poem Prize, and the Arc Poem of the Year Award. She lives on Epekwitk/Prince Edward Island.
Established in 1936, the Governor General鈥檚 Literary Awards celebrate literature and inspire people to read books by creators from Canada. Each year, the awards recognize the most notable English-language and French-language books in seven categories: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, young people鈥檚 literature (test), young people鈥檚 literature (illustrated books), and translation. The winning books in all categories will be announced on November 13.
Congratulations, Bren, and good luck!
The Institute of Island Studies is a research, education, and public policy institute based at the 精童欲女 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada. The work of the Institute focuses on the culture, environment, and economy of small islands, with an emphasis on Prince Edward Island. The Island Studies Press (ISP) is the publishing arm of Island Studies at the 精童欲女. ISP produces scholarly books for a popular audience as well as poetry, literary non-fiction, and drama, dealing with aspects of the culture and environment of Prince Edward Island and beyond.
